Recent Best Buy Experience

[jomirrivera]

Wife's creaky and quirky $350 Dell finally bit the dust (Thank god and RIP). Just the excuse to bring her into the Apple fold.

No Apple stores nearby and she needed a machine ASAP. I haven't been to a Best Buy in years because... well, I just never liked their tactics. But since that's the only option for us in these parts, we gave it a go.

Wow. No high pressure sales. No employees hovering over you every 2 minutes. (They just ask if you need anything and move on). The Apple guy at the counter just answered a couple of questions then left me alone.

Bought a MPB13... no condescending sales pitch about how I must have an extended service contract, none of this, "you need these extra accessories" or need more RAM, bigger Hard Drive, no paperwork or sales geek demanding my phone number, email, street address and shoe size. The employee just went to the back, got a new MBP box and lead me to the checkout. With a thanks, smile and handshake he was gone.

This was actually a pleasant experience. What in god's name has happened to Best Buy?

Lucky you!
My macbook pro has been with the geek squad for the past three weeks, not fixed yet!

 

[Nutdotnet]

I would like to comment on the idea that BB sales people do not know anything about apple.

I just returned from my local BB store (here in Champaign, IL). This is one of those stores with an Apple "store" in it. The Apple rep was busy with another customer, and one of the Blue shirted BB sales people came up and asked if he could help. I asked him my question, (which concerned moving photos from iPhoto onto a thumb drive I purchased yesterday) and he quickly gave me the info I needed.

Not knowledgeable about Apple? In this store at least they are very knowledgeable.

It's hit and miss - I can almost guarantee that BB doesn't provide specific Apple training...the best buy associates that actually know what they are talking about are likely enthusiasts.

I consider it very similar to car salesmen...any one can do it, and you can tell who is doing it because it's a job, and not because they are actually interested in the product.

 

[dkersten]

I went into Best Buy the other day because I needed an external HDD that day (or else I would have bought it on Amazon or Newegg).

I don't know how we got on the subject but it took me like 5 minutes to explain to the salesman that a user could not upgrade the RAM because it was soldered into the motherboard. When he said he didn't like that, I had to explain to him that it was necessary to achieve the form factor that the rMBP had. I'm pretty sure that the salesman hadn't received any information or training on the new product but was just told that the screen was "retina".

 

[thekev]

And it was one of those "idiots" that made me swear off BB 6 years ago. Returned a faulty laptop and they insisted on charging me a 20% restocking fee. Even the pompous store manager wouldn't budge after I pointed out that all I needed to do was dispute the CC charges. I also told him I was going to buy something else there at the store. Didn't matter. In 3 minutes I had the problem resolved with Visa, BB was out a sale, a long term customer, and this guy most likely didn't care. Freaking amazing.

I'm rootin' for you guys. Let's hope the new leadership is not too late. The pie is still big enough to share with retail store fronts and I'm sure people need the jobs.

I still remember searching for some random item in Best Buy (can't remember what) when I overheard a Best Buy employee selling some people a new hard drive for their laptop due to a virus. Rather than suggesting they reinstall the OS, avoid questionable browsing habits, and set up a scan to run once a week or so, he told them they needed a new hard drive. I guess it's a sale for Best Buy, but it does little to help those people out. There are a lot of areas where I wish Apple Store employees were trained better too. It's usually in fringe cases, but there are details like, the 2011 macbook pros can't necessarily run at maximum speed off an 85W charger. There have been many topics in Apple's discussions section, yet no Apple Store employee will say much. Once you get slightly outside of their comfort zone of "how do I transfer files from my old computer", they freeze up much of the time.

 

[NT1440]

I still remember searching for some random item in Best Buy (can't remember what) when I overheard a Best Buy employee selling some people a new hard drive for their laptop due to a virus. Rather than suggesting they reinstall the OS, avoid questionable browsing habits, and set up a scan to run once a week or so, he told them they needed a new hard drive. I guess it's a sale for Best Buy, but it does little to help those people out. There are a lot of areas where I wish Apple Store employees were trained better too. It's usually in fringe cases, but there are details like, the 2011 macbook pros can't necessarily run at maximum speed off an 85W charger. There have been many topics in Apple's discussions section, yet no Apple Store employee will say much. Once you get slightly outside of their comfort zone of "how do I transfer files from my old computer", they freeze up much of the time.

Yea that guy would have to be an idiot to suggest that.

And to everyone saying stuff like "must need the sale" if you don't get a plan on an electronic, we're making pennies on it. Price matching has eliminated profits in retail, the only place to make it up is accessories and services.

 

[Charlaux]

Well, no Apple stores nearby. And if my wife's work demands could've waited a few days I certainly would've ordered online and avoided sales tax altogether.

And the problem I have with Apple stores is they are just too damned busy. I bought an ATV at one last month and needed a hatchet just to get through to a free "blue shirt". Once I squeezed in though the whole transaction took all of 1 minute. Love how they swipe your card on the iPod touch. Why the hell doesn't the rest of the world do this? Helpful Apple gal too btw.

As far as Best Buy goes... I'm certainly not going to gush over the whole chain after one recent visit to one store. But honestly, I could tell there was something that changed since my last visit. It reeked of training, focus, and overall customer satisfaction. I dunno.... maybe everyone's hormones were just in synch that day.

Regardless, I'll give 'em another go based on this trip. They deserve at least that much. (Note to all retailers: It's really that simple).

In that case Best Buy is fine too but in my recent experience of Apple Store for buying a macbook pro retina things just went smoothly.I was in New Haven so It was not such a BIG store and employees were so fast,I mean the nice employe clicked to the macbook pro retina and the other employe bring it in a minute.The employes applaused me while I was leaving.It was my very first experience with Apple Store and even you pay a bunch they can just treat neutrally.He gave me his card and must say that I really enjoyed the athmosphere.Again,It was my personal experience and different things happen to everyone so